DJzone DJ Magazine

With its summer-long contest, DJ Times is doing its best to find out-even when the weather doesn't cooperate.

We can say this: America's Best DJ Summer Tour Presented by Pioneer DJ is nothing if not intrepid. We've endured 8-hour airport delays, hotel cancellations, unreasonable hotel managers, intrusive hotel maids, stifling humidity, flat tires and flat beer, but this past weekend's event offered up a new challenge-good ol' Southern T-storms.

We’re still wiping the wetness from our travel materials, as we continue to recover from the series of crackling thunderstorms that pounded us at 2 High Studios in Atlanta this past weekend. The outdoor Bubblicious event was blessed with legions of the region’s true believers-we met fans from all over Georgia, plus some knowledgeable DJ/promoters from Tennessee and Alabama that are keeping it real for EDM down in Dixie. But by Day 2, the wet weather swept in and held us in its grip. And that lightning-whoa! 

Of the 4 America’s Best DJ nominees at Bubblicious, only Charles Feelgood, Donald Glaude and DJ Dan made it to the decks-the weather, unfortunately, kept our old friend Reid Speed at bay. Nonetheless, we’d like to thank the promotion team from Underground Syndicate for all their Southern Hospitality and let’s give Mother Nature a lecture for next year.

This week we cruise northward for what Barry Manilow might call “a weekend in New England.” Dunno if Barry has Worcester, Mass., in mind whenever he sings that song, but we certainly will this Friday. Why? We’re bringing the America’s Best DJ Summer Tour Presented by Pioneer DJ to Worcester’s Club Oasis on June 24. What’s there? Kick The System Foam Party featuring America’s Best DJ nominee Annalyze.

We’ve known Annalyze for a few years and have enjoyed her deep skills as she demonstrated various products for various manufacturers at the Winter NAMM show and at our own DJ Expo, but this will be the first America’s Best DJ event for the talented turntablist from Rochester, N.Y. Rock the house, girl, we’ll see you in Massachussetts.

As always fans can vote for their favorite nominee at www.americasbestdj.net, and they can cast ballots in-person at events like Kick The System. Of course, voters are automatically registered to win our Sept. 6 drawing to send one lucky voter (and a friend) to Las Vegas for the America’s Best DJ Closing Party/Award Ceremony on October 1 at Marquee Nightclub.

Other upcoming events on the ABDJ Summer Tour Presented by Pioneer DJ include: Erick Morillo at Marquee Nightclub in Las Vegas, Nev., July 2; Markus Schulz at Tao Beach in Las Vegas, Nev., July 3; DJ Vice at Tao Nightclub in Las Vegas, Nev., July 4; Camp Bisco (with Bassnectar, Wolfgang Gartner, Skrillex and Tokimonsta) in Mariaville, N.Y., July 7-9; and Sleepy & Boo at Cielo in New York, N.Y., July 8.

For the latest info on America's Best DJ, please visit www.americasbestdj.net.